The effect of stocking rate and calving date on grass production,utilization and nutritive value of the sward during the grazing season

A 2‐year whole‐farm system study compared the accumulation, utilization and nutritive value of grass in spring‐calving grass‐based systems differing in stocking rate (SR) and calving date (CD). Six treatments (systems) were compared over two complete grazing seasons. Stocking rates used in the study were low (2·5 cows ha^?1), medium (2·9 cows ha^?1) and high (3·3 cows ha^?1), respectively, and mean CDs were 12 February (early) and 25 February (late). Each system had its own farmlet of eighteen paddocks and one herd that remained on the same farmlet area for the duration of the study. Stocking rate had a small effect on total herbage accumulation (11 860 kg DM ha^?1 year^?1), but had no effect on total herbage utilization (11 700 kg DM ha^?1 year^?1). Milk and milk solids (MS; fat + protein) production per ha increased by 2580 and 196 kg ha^?1 as SR increased from 2·5 to 3·3 cows ha^?1. Milk production per ha and net herbage accumulation and utilization were unaffected by CD. Winter feed production was reduced as SR increased. Increased SR, associated with increased grazing severity, resulted in swards of increased leaf content and nutritive value. The results indicate that, although associated with increased milk production per ha, grazed grass utilization and improved sward nutritive value, the potential benefits of increased SR on Irish dairy farms can only be realized if the average level of herbage production and utilization is increased.     

Comparison of gene expression profiles of the jejunum of broilers supplemented with a yeast cell wall-derived mannan oligosaccharide versus bacitractin methylene disalicylate

1. The addition of yeast cell wall (YCW) mannan fractions or low concentrations of antibiotics to the diet of broilers positively affects gut health by improving intestinal cell morphology and improves feed efficiency and performance; however the exact mechanisms are unclear. Based on these production responses, the objective of this study was to compare the effects of supplementing YCW and bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) in the diet on mRNA levels in the jejunum of 6-week-old broilers.

2. Dietary treatments were a maize-soya control diet and the control diet with the addition of YCW or BMD. Birds (n = 7) from each dietary treatment were randomly selected and killed at d 42. Whole jejunum (with serosa) samples were collected for RNA isolation. Gene expression analysis was performed using the AffymetrixGeneChip Chicken Genome Array (Santa Clara, CA, USA).

3. Supplementation with YCW resulted in 928 genes that were significantly changed (456 down-regulated, 472 up-regulated) and supplementation with BMD resulted in 857 genes that significantly changed (408 down-regulated, 449 up-regulated). In addition, 316 genes were significantly changed by both YCW and BMD (146 down-regulated, 170 up-regulated).

4. BMD increased the expression of genes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and decreased expression of genes associated with T-helper cell pathways. Gene expression profiles from birds fed on diets containing YCW showed changes on a genomic level that correspond to slower gut cell turnover and therefore increased energy preservation for growth.

5. In conclusion, supplementation with BMD or YCW had similar influences on the number of differentially expressed genes in the jejunum. Biological functions common to both YCW and BMD with positive activation scores included antiviral response and antimicrobial response. Genes that were affected by BMD or YCW classified into both different and common biological functions and pathways related to improved metabolism and health in the jejunum.     

Residual patterns of alkyl polyoxyethylene surfactant droplets after water evaporation

Using a nonionic, alkyl polyoxyethylene surfactant (X-77) in aqueous solutions, sessile droplet spreading, pinning, evaporation, contraction, and post-evaporation deposits are characterized. X-77 is widely used in the agricultural field as a spreader/adherent, intended to optimize pathenogenic agent coverage. Using a single droplet size under monitored temperature conditions, we control humidity, substrate hydrophobicity, and surfactant concentration to mimic varying agricultural conditions. For hydrophilic surfaces, the droplet spreads, reaching and retaining a maximum, stationary size. At this stage, a ring accretion occurs at the maximum spread diameter. During the final stage, the water film retracts, resulting in deposition of small islands of surfactant residue inside the ring. At lower concentrations of surfactant, we discover ring formations that break-up into "ring islands" at late-stage evaporation, accompanied by a distribution of the smaller islands in the interior portion of the substrate contact area. These are promoted by higher relative humidity. At higher concentrations, only a solid ring of surfactant remains, post-evaporation. Increasing surfactant concentration tends to increase the mean of the interior island size and to broaden the overall island size distribution. On sufficiently hydrophobic surfaces, surfactant-laden droplets do not evidence pinning, ring formations, or post-evaporation interior islands. Interestingly, lower humidity increases spreading at higher surfactant concentrations. Such pattern formations of surfactant deposit are reported for the first time and are of significance in projecting how surfactants such as X-77 distribute pesticides or other chemicals on leaf surfaces.     

Direct observations of structural phase transitions in planar crystallized ion plasmas

Laser-cooled 9Be+ ions confined in two-dimensionally extended lattice planes were directly observed, and the images were used to characterize the structural phases of the ions. Five different stable crystalline phases were observed, and the energetically favored structure could be sensitively tuned by changing the areal density of the confined ions. The experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions for the planar (infinite in two dimensions) one-component plasma. Qualitatively similar structural phase transitions occur, or are predicted to occur, in other experimentally realizable planar systems.     

Moving integrated weed management from low level to a truly integrated and highly specific weed management system using advanced technologies

Integrated weed management (IWM) is one of the most commonly referred to approaches for sustainable and effective weed control in agriculture, yet it is not widely practiced, likely because current IWM systems fail to meet performance expectations of growers. The effectiveness and value of IWM systems should increase with increasing application specificity and true integration made possible with contemporary advances in technology, information systems and decision support. IWM systems can be classified based on their degree of application specificity and level of integration of tactics. In the application specificity pathway, a tactic is applied at a range of scales, from subfield to plant specific. In the integration pathway, multiple weed control tactics are combined in a synergistic manner. We hypothesise that the full value of IWM can and will be realised only when current and emerging technological innovations, information systems and decision tools are synergistically combined for use in real time. The True IWM system we envision requires automation and robotic technologies, coupled with information and decision support systems that are available or emerging but not yet enabled, in a proven integrated platform. Examples of low‐level, traditional and precision IWM systems are discussed, and research needs for a True IWM system are presented. We conclude that the immediate call should be for a long‐term investment in R&D and education (both theoretical and empirical) to develop and implement True IWM systems, an effort best accomplished in a public–private partnership where all essential entities are fully engaged and adequately resourced, including growers from all countries who will utilise IWM.